A highlight on the international stage. Clash of Kings takes place once a year in the United Kingdom and draws together the most avid players for a weekend of gaming. Attendees display a masterclass in generalship, model making, painting, camaraderie, and most importantly: Fashion! Luckily Dash 28’s roving fashion correspondent (yours truly) was on the scene to capture some of the dazzling looks on display.
The Northern Kings sported elegant dark heather grey tees with a classic round neck. A classy and practical colour choice for dealing with high temperatures at venues such as CoK23. Their distinctive logo adorned their left chest in a crisp white screen print, keeping the North as close to their hearts as possible.
Proving that black is indeed the new black we have stylish shirts of the Chesterfield Open Gaming Society. Their clever acronym lending itself to an easily recognisable cog symbol. The use of yellow as a spot colour makes the logo pop and it could be seen all over the venue on some lovely measuring aids I’m rather jealous of. Also pictured is their drone which raises questions about the mechanical mechanisations of these gaming icons.
From the warm yellow logo, we go to a cool blue. South London Legion weren’t out in force as we would have been over capacity with 2 Centuria let alone all 6000. A cool blue on a crisp black is one of my personal favourites and references to the Empire of Rome are always a joy. Of particular note is the rakish fall of an unbuttoned collar that screams confidence. Alea is most assuredly icata’d.
To quote a Polish saying ‘A good painter need not give a name to their picture.’ This rings true for the excellent wordplay by the Kings of Warsaw. Presenting both their passion and their home in one well-designed logo is what this year’s catwalk is all about. Sublime.
It isn’t easy being green but it’s certainly easy on the eyes. Representing hope, renewal, and immortality the North West Warriors shirt uses colour to embody victory echoing through eternity. Gamers usually have a penchant for black and someone bringing brightness to the table was a welcome addition to this year’s fashion lineup.
Herts and Minds isn’t the usual approach to winning at Kings of War. Who would have guessed then, that when it comes to style the Kings of Herts are slaying. The red complements the blue and the crisp white blends with the coolness of the blue whilst contrasting beautifully. A logo that harkens back to traditional gaming pursuits whilst embodying the present deal makes this a look to remember.
Retro is cool. Our younger readers may not believe me but in the 90’s this is what peak male performance looked like. Noel had it all, as do ‘Noels House Party. ‘ A team that planned to share a house near the venue but accidentally booked the wrong place and had to find hotels last minute. While their planning may have fallen short, their retro-chic reaches new heights. Blobby, blobby, blobby!
Ahh, the world-famous Moonrakers. Displaying their heraldry on waistcoats elevates this team from catwalk fashion to boardroom chic. Alas, the weather necessitated the removal of the waistcoats as the weekend progressed. Please excuse the random photo bomber in the middle of the team.
If you want to see what happens when confidence meets a need to stand out in the world of fashion, look no further. Colour, bold use of pattern, coordination through clashing design. Given the weather, this look delivered not only style but functionality. Truly Fashion Kings amoungst men.
Shout out to everyone at Clash of Kings 2023 who got some serious drip (did I use that right) on display. I look forward to seeing you all again next year.
This is my favourite article on the site so far. Pure gold from start to finish!
What would be really great (and also amusing) is if it inspires next year’s clubs to up their game.